Strip feeding machine having control for slack length in strips



April 3, 1951 w. PECHY 2,547,039

. STRIP FEEDING MACHINE HAVING CONTROL 7 FOR SLACK LENGTH IN STRIPS 2sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1947 fi I I v 27 a w i b 4 4 7. 5 5 J |6z Io E o 5 54 66 M '1 K ,/a7

Zi 5 45 6K 6 INVENTOR BYZ I ATTO R N EYS April 3, 1951 2,547,039

W. PECHY STRIP FEEDING MACHINE HAVING CONTROL FOR SLACK LENGTH IN STRIPSFiled Oct. 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR iwwh ATTORNEYS i atenteclApr. 3, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIRFEED NQ INEH VING G N- TROLFOR SLACK LENGTH IN STRIPS William Pechy', Manasquan, N. J., assignor toAmerican- Gan Company, New York; N: Yr, acorporation of- New Jersey Appl ieatiozii octoter'z, 1947, Sr-ialN'o; 777,415-

This invention relatesgenerally to machines for feeding a continuousstrip or web of material having aslack length or loop and has"particular reference to devices for controlling the length of the loopWithincertain predetermined limits as the stripis fed.

The invention contemplates the provision of a continuously operatedfeeding device for'feeding strip or webstock, whether metallic ornonmetallic material, into a free or slacklength to form a loop thereofand for advancing the strip intermittently from the loop into a workperforming station, the length of material within such a loopbeingcontrolled by a suitablemechanism to keep any change in the size oftheloop within certain predetermined limits so' that the length ofmaterial in the loop remains substantially the same.

An object of the invention is the provision in a machine for feeding acontinuous strip or web of material having a free length or slack loop;of a control mechanism wherein: the size of the loop is controlled formaintaining substantially' constant the length of material in the loop.

Another object is the provision. of such a control mechanism wherein thelength of material in the loop is replenished in accordance with thefeeding of the material from the loop.

Another object is the provision insuch a control mechanism of variablespeed feeding devices for the web wherein the material in the loop,. asthe loop variesin size within predetermined li'mits, efiects a changeinthe rate of feeding. of the web into the loop for maintainingapredetermined length of material in the loop during operation of themachine.

Numerous other obj ects and advantages-pf the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying. drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring. to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational' view of amachine embodying the presentinvention with parts broken away and parts in section, the" view alsoincluding a wiring diagram of electrical apparatus utilized in theoperation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a control'mechanism astaken'substantiallyalong the line 2'2"in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1' takensubstantially along the broken lines 33 in Fig. 1 ;v

Fig:4:is-' an enlarged-sectional view of ai-contin- 3 Claims; (01.27'12.3)

2. uously operated feeding device as taken substantially along the line4 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of an intermittently operatedfeeding device as taken substantially along the broken lines 55 in Fig.1;. and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of a free-wheeling device, the view beingtaken substantially along the line 86 in Fig. 5.

As an exemplary embodiment of the present A invention the drawingsillustrate a feeding mechanism for advancing a continuous strip or web Aof metallic or nonmetallic material and for controlling the size of aloop of the material moving between two difierent feeding devices in themechanism. The material or stock A (Fig. l) is unwound irom a reel B andfed upwardly into a loop C by a primary or continuous feeding device D.The material A is feel or withdrawn from the loop C by a secondary orintermittently operated feeding device E which feeds the stock into apunch press For othermaehirierorpuncning and rbrnun articles" therefrom.

Ihe size of the loop C is controlled to keep it between upperand loweror maximum and minimum limits as" indicated by the dot and dash lines Gand H. For this purpose a eontrolmechani'sm I is provided for effectinga change in the rate. of feeding of the" material into theloop Cinaccordance with a change in the size of the loop. This keeps'th'e sizeof the loop between the limits as indicated by G and H and thusmaintains substantially constant the free or slack length of thematerial within the lbop'.

* The reel B is mounted on a crossbar H which is journal'ed in slideblocks l2 carried in slots 13 of a reel frame 54 (Figs. 1 and 3). Theframe Himay be secured to a machine base ordi'rectly to the flooradjacent the press or' other machine F. The reel B is supported onrollers it. which are rotatably carried in the frame M.

The material A- is unwound from the reel and is drawn orfed upwardly bya pair of rotating feed rolls [6, If of the primary feeding device Dwhich is located above the reel B (Figs. 1 and 4) Feed rolls- I6, H aresecured respectively to spaced horizontal shafts l8, it] which are jjournaled-in suitable bearings in a bracket 2!. Shaft hi is extended at oneend and is driven by a sprocket 22 which is secured to this shaft. Adrive-gear 2-3ralso is secured to the shaft I3- and this gearmeshes'with and drives a gear 24" secured to the shaft l9foreffectingthe rotation ofthe feed rolls l;6-,- El in unisonand'i-nopposite directions.

The bracket 2| is secured to a pair of spaced and parallel verticalsupports or pipes 25 (Figs. 1 and 35) adjacent the lower or entrance endof a vertically disposed ascending chute 26 through which the webmaterial A is fed. Chute 26 is ecured to the pipes 25 by a pair ofbrackets 21. The pipes 25 together with vertical supports 01' pipes 2cand connecting cross pipes 29 comprise the frame of the mechanism. Pipes25 are secured at their lower ends in pipe fittings 3i fastened to thefloor or base of the mechanism and the pipes 28 are secured at theirlower ends in bosses 32 formed on the frame of the press or othermachine F. I

The rollers It, ll of the primary feeding device D are drivencontinuously by an endless chain 33 which passes over the sprocket 22and a sprocket or driven clutch element 34 carried on one end of a crankshaft 35 of the press F which provides the actuating or driving means(Figs. 1, 3 and Shaft 35 is the main shaft of the press and may bedriven in any suitable manner.

The sprocket 3 is formed with a stepped or shouldered bore 36 (Figs. 5and 6) within which a free-wheeling clutch member or drive collar Si islocated. The drive collar 31 is secured to the shaft 35 and cooperateswith the sprocket or driven clutch element 34 in providing a drivingclutch 38 for the feeding device D. The outer periphery of the clutchmember or drive collar is formed with a plurality of spaced wedge-shapedrecesses 39, in each of which a cylindrical element or gripping rollerIll is located. During the operation of the press F, the collar 37rotates in a clockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 6, and therebywedges the gripping rollers 41 between the sloping surfaces of therecesses and the bore 35 to chest continuous operation of the primaryfeeding device D.

As the web of material A moves upward from the feeding device D throughthe ascending chute 26, it passes out of an opening 42 in the side ofthe chute to form the loop C (Fig. 1). Such a loop extends across apredetermined space and gradually curves downwardly into an opening 43in the side of a vertically disposed descending chute :34. This latterchute is secured by a pair of spaced brackets 45 fastened to the pipes28.

The web of material A is fed down and out at the bottom end of thedescending chute M. by the secondary or intermittently operated feedingdevice E located beneath the chute for feeding the web into a die 46 ofthe press F (Fig. l) Such a device operates in time with the operationof the press in order to feed a steady supply of the stock A thereto.

The secondary feeding device E includes a pair of spaced feed rolls 4],58 between which the web of material A passes (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) Thefeed rolls ll, 48 are secured respectively to spaced longitudinal shafts5|, 52 which are journaled in suitable bearings in a bracket 53 which isintegral with a plate 55 secured to the press F.

The shaft 5| is extended at one end and is journaled in a suitablebearing in an extension 54 of the bracket 53. This shaft is driven by arachet wheel 56 which is secured to its outer end. A drive gear 5'! alsois secured to the shaft 5!, and meshes with and drives a gear 58 securedto the shaft 52 for effecting the rotation of the feed rolls 41, 48 inunison and in opposite directions.

The rollers 41, 48 of the secondary feeding device E are operatedintermittently by a pawl 6| which engages with teeth 62 formed on therachet wheel 56. The pawl BI is pivotally carried on an 4 arm 63 of abell crank 6c which is free to rock on a stud 65 secured to the end ofthe shaft 5| (Figs. 1, 3 and 5).

The bell crank 8% is actuated by a link 66 which is pivotally connectedat one end to an arm 6'1 of this crank. The opposite end of the link 66is pivotally and eocentrically mounted on a disc 58 secured to an end ofthe crank shaft 35 of the press F (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). The crank shaft 35thus serves as a single actuating or driving means for both the primaryfeeding device D and the secondary feeding device E.

For best results, the secondary feeding device E normally operates at aslightly faster rate of speed than the primary feeding device D andtherefore feeds the web material A from the loop faster than thematerial is fed into the loop. Thus, as the operation of the press Fcontinues, the size of the loop gradually decreases from its normal sizeindicated by the letter C to that illustrated by the loop H, having aninsufiicient amount of material, at its lower limit.

Upon the loop reaching the lower limit H, the web of material in theloop engages against a lever 'H connected to a normally open switch 72of the control mechanism I (Figs. 1 and 2). The moving web A actuatesthe lever H and closes the switch 12 and thereby establishes an electriccircuit which starts a normally idle electric motor 73 which serves asan auxiliary actuating or driving means for the feeding device D. Thisauxiliary drive increases the rate of feeding of material A into theloop beyond the rate that it is being withdrawn by the device E so as toreplenish or build up a reserve of the material in the loop and thusincrease the size of the latter.

The motor i3 is mounted on a bracket 74 secured to the frame 14 (Fig.1). An endless belt 15 passes over a motor sheave l9 and a sheave 16formed on the driven clutch element or sprocket 34 (Figs. 5 and 6). Themotor when in operation increases the rotative speed of the sprocket 34beyond the normal speed of the shaft 35 so that the sprocket rotates onthis shaft. This allows the gripping rollers M to drop back into therecesses 39 and disengage the sprocket M from its driving connectionwith the clutch member 31. The driving clutch 38 thereupon ceases tofunction in clutched connection with the crank shaft 35 and in effectprovides a free-wheeling device for the sprocket 3&- for independentlydriving the primary feeding device D.

The motor 13 continues to operate and drive the primary feeding deviceD, gradually increasing the length of Web or material A in the loopuntil the size of the latter reaches its upper limit as illustrated bythe dot and dash loop G. The advancing web A then engages and actuates alever H which is pivotally connected to a normally closed switch 18 ofthe control mechanism I to effect opening of this switch.

Opening of the switch l8 breaks the electric circuit connecting with themotor 73 and thus stops the motor. Thus the auxiliary drive ceases tooperate. The primary feeding device D thereafter is driven through thedriving clutch 38 from the shaft 35 as previously described and the webof material is fed at its normal rate. In this manner the size of theloop C is maintained within the upper and lower limits G, H through theaction of the switches 12, T8 of the control mechanism.

The control mechanism I includes a pair of spaced guides 8| (Figs. 1 and2) which are vertically disposed and welded to the cross pipes,

28 on each side of the path of the moving web of material A forming theloop, so that the latter may pass freely therebetween. The guides areheld in spaced relation by rods 82 bolted be:- tween their upper andlower ends. The switches 12, 18 are mounted on the side of one of theguides 8| with the levers H ll extending into the path of the advancingloop of material A.

Reference should now be had to the wiring diagrain in Fig. 1 whichincludes a starting circuit J and a holding circuit K. The startingcircuit J includes the switch 72 and a normally open relay switch 83which is actuated by a normally de-energized solenoid 84. In thiscircuit one side of the switch 12 is connected by a Wire 85 to theelectric motor 13. The other side of the switch is connected by a wire86 to the solenoid 84. The solenoid is also connected by a wire 81 to asuitable source of electric current such as a generator 88. The otherside of the generator is connected by a wire 89 to the motor 13.

Hence when the switch 72 is closed, the starting circuit J is completedand electric current from the generator 88 passes along this circuit andexcites the motor 13 and also energizes the solenoid 84. Energizing ofthe solenoid closes the relay switch 83 and thereby establishes theholding circuit K.

The holding circuit K includes the relay switch 83 and the normallyclosed switch 18. In this circuit one side of the switch 18 is connectedby a wire 9! to the Wire 85 of the starting circuit J. The other side ofthe switch is connected by a wire 92 to the relay switch 83. The relayswitch is also connected by a wire 93 to the wire 86 of the startingcircuit J.

Hence upon establishment of the starting circuit J, electric currentfrom the generator 88 flows from the wire 85, along the wire 9!, throughthe closed switch 18, wire 92, closed relay switch 83, wires 93, 86,solenoid 84, and returns to the generator along the wire 81. Currentpassing along this circuit maintains the solenoid 84 in an energizedcondition and thus keeps the motor 13 operating after the loop C ofmaterial has been increased sufficiently to ride off the lever H andthereby permit the switch 12 to open.

Operation of the motor 13 continues, through the flow of electriccurrent along the combined starting circuit J and holding circuit K,until the loop increases sufliciently to engage and actuat the lever 11.Actuation of the lever opens the switch 18 and this breaks the combinedstarting and holding circuits J and K. The flow of current therebyceases and the motor 13 thus stops operating and thus permits furtherfeeding of the material at the reduced rate of speed under the operationof the press crank shaft as hereinbefore explained. This breaking of thecircuits also de-energizes the solenoid 84 and thereby opens the relayswitch 83, thus resetting the circuits for a repeat operation when theloop C again decreases in size to its lower limit H as hereinbeforeexplained.

While strip or web material has been described herein the invention isof course applicable to the control of loops of other material forexample the material to be fed and operated upon might be wire material.Any material which can be fed and controlled by the present invention isintended to be included.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form,

6 construction and arrangement ofv th parts without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machin for feeding strip, web or similar material along a pathof travel, the combination of primary feeding devices for continuouslyadvancing the material into a slack loop, secondary feeding devices forintermittently feeding the material from said loop, actuating meansincluding a shaft for operating said secondary feeding devices, a driveclutch mounted on said actuating shaft and including a rotating drivenelement having a clutch connection with the shaft for operating saidprimary feeding devices, auxiliary actuating means connecting with thedriven element of said clutch for rotating said element relative to saidactuating shaft to change the rate of advancement of the strip by saidprimary feeding devices, and control means connecting with saidauxiliary actuating means and operable by a predetermined amount ofmaterial in said slack loop for engaging or disengaging said drivenclutch element and said drive shaft to regulate the length of materialin said loop in accordance with the feeding of the material from theloop.

2. In a machine for feeding strip, web or similar material along a pathof travel, the combination of primary feeding devices for continuouslyadvancing the material into a slack loop, secondary feeding devices forintermittently feeding the material from said loop, actuating meansincluding a shaft for operating said secondary feeding devices, a driveclutch mounted on said actuating shaft and including a rotating drivenelement having a clutch connection with the shaft for operating saidprimary feeding devices, auxiliary actuating means connecting with thedriven element of said clutch for rotating said element faster than saidactuating shaft to increase the rate of advancement of the strip by saidprimary feeding devices, and control means connecting with saidauxiliary actuating means and operable by a predetermined amountofmaterial in said slack loop for engaging or disengaging said drivenclutoh element and said drive shaft to regulate the length of materialin said loop in accordance with the feeding of the material from theloop.

3. In a machine for feeding strip, web or similar material along a pathof travel, the combination of primary feeding devices for continuouslyadvancing the material into a slack loop, secondary feeding devices forintermittently feeding the material from said loop, actuating meansincluding a shaft for operating said sec-. ondary feeding devices, adrive clutch mounted on said actuating shaft and including a rotatingdriven element having a clutch connection with the shaft for operatingsaid primary feeding devices in synchronisrn with said secondary feed-.ing devices, auxiliary actuating means connecte ing with the drivenelement of said clutch for rotating said element faster than saidactuating shaft to disconnect the clutch connection with said shaft andincrease the rate of advancement of the strip by said primary feedingdevices, and control means including a pair of electric switches locatedin spaced relation adjacent the path of the material in said loop, saidcontrol means connecting with said auxiliary actuating means, one ofsaid switches being engaged and operated by the strip having a minimumamount of v H REFERENCES .CITED 7 material in said slack loop foreflecting rotation The following references are of record m the of saiddriven clutch element through said auxilme of this patient:

iary actuating means and. the other of said 7 v switches being engagedby the strip having a 5 UNITED-STATES PATENTS maximum amount of materialin said slack loop Number Name Date for effecting clutch connectionbetween said shaft 314,207 Ward Mar. 1'7, 1885 and said driven clutchelement. 1,951,875 Laabs Mar. 20, 1934 2,247,713 Peterson et a1. July 1,1941 WILLIAM PEG-HY. :0 2,277,514 Elser Mar. 24, 1942

